Individual Case Study - Instructions
Individual Case Study
-Review the practice activity on descriptive modeling (identifying the relationships between variables), and practice calculation of co
elations and building scatter plots using this data file.
*Excel is attached (Magic Foods. Pattern Recognition. Data)
-Follow the instructions in the document to analyze the case.
*Instructions Document is attached (Individual Case Study Instructions)
-Prepare a business memo to report and discuss your findings on this case and answer the case questions.
*Ru
ic for this case study is attached (Grading Ru
ic)
-Follow APA 6 style to prepare the report, and include Cover Sheet and the ru
ic at the beginning of the report.
Individual Case Study Instructions
Magic Foods, a leading manufacturer of pickles, spice pastes, instant mixes. Although Magic Foods keeps leading market positions in a number of regions, recently the company witnessed an increase in competition resulting in a decrease of its sales. Company leadership wants to know the critical factors driving the sales and on which the company should focus so that to be able to increase the sales the most.
Instructions
In order to complete the assignment, first review the practice activity of applying descriptive models. Then, answer the questions listed below for each part of the case.
Conduct necessary calculations and visualizations to answer the questions. Submit your Excel spreadsheet(s) with calculations/ visualizations. You may submit additional Excel spreadsheets if you feel they are necessary to support your answers.
Prepare a report, which includes your answers to the assignment questions. Your answers must be entered directly into this Word document below each question. Insert each answer below each question on this document and use as much space as needed.
Grading
A total of 7.5 points is possible for this assignment. This includes the point values which are assigned to each question (point values are noted next to each question below) plus 1.5 points which are earned based on following the prescribed assignment format, and the proper writing style and APA format.
Part 1 (1 point):
Define a problem statement which reflects the challenge facing Magic Foods leadership.
Part 2 (5 points):
A. Apply descriptive modeling to analyze relationships between company sales and all predictor variables (2 points):
a. Calculate co
elation coefficients of company sales and the predictor variables
. Construct scatter plots of company sales and the predictor variables
c. Calculate co
elation coefficients of the population and number of popular
ands, number of shops and dealers
d. Analyze the pivot table summarizing variable values for each cluster (clusters represent a group of regions with similar properties in terms of the sales, population, number of
ands, shops and dealers; clusters were assigned using a descriptive data mining technique called cluster analysis)
B. Discuss the results of your analysis. Illustrate your answer with appropriate statistics and visualizations (2 points).
a. How the sales factors impact the company sales? (0.5 points)
. What factors influence company sales the most? (0.5 points)
c. How population in the sales regions are related to the number of popular
ands, number of shops and dealers? (0.5 points)
d. Describe the cu
ent sales strategy for each regional group (cluster). How effective in your opinion is the cu
ent sales strategy? (0.5 points)
C. Provide recommendations for the Magic Foods management (1 point).
2
01/05
CASE STUDY GRADING RUBRIC
Performance Criteria
Does not Meet Basic Criterion
Developing
Proficient
Exemplary
Score
Identify the problem
(Part 1)
Does not identify the problem, or does not identify the right problem.
(0 pts)
Identifies symptoms and/ or some elements of the problem.
XXXXXXXXXXpts)
Substantially identifies the problem.
XXXXXXXXXXpts)
Effectively and succinctly identifies the problem.
(0.5 pts)
Calculate results using a spreadsheet
(Part 2.A)
Does not calculate appropriate results and/or
does not provide evidence of calculations
(0 pt)
Calculates appropriate results using a spreadsheet (not all answers are
co
ect)
(0.1-1 pts)
Calculates appropriate results using a spreadsheet (most answers are co
ect)
XXXXXXXXXXpts)
Effectively
calculates results using a spreadsheet (all answers are co
ect)
(2 pts)
Explain
implications of output of spreadsheet analysis
(Part 2.B)
Does not explain
implications of
analysis output
(0 pt)
Partially
explains
implications of
analysis output
XXXXXXXXXXpts)
Substantially
explains
implications of analysis output
XXXXXXXXXXpts)
Effectively explains
implications of analysis output
(1 pts)
Generate recommendations based on analysis and context
(Part 2.C)
Does not generate appropriate recommendations and does not justify conclusions.
(0 pt)
Generates recommendations (does not justify conclusions); or vice versa.
XXXXXXXXXXpts)
Partially: *generates and justifies recommendations based on analysis and context; and *justifies conclusions.
XXXXXXXXXXpts)
Effectively: *generates and justifies recommendations based on analysis and context; and *justifies conclusions.
(1 pts)
Uses prescribed format (including cover sheet and grading ru
ic) and writing style (language, grammar, punctuation, and spelling). Uses APA format
Does not use prescribed format and writing style. Does not apply APA style.
(0 pt)
May use prescribed format OR writing style (only one) OR does not apply APA style.
(0.1-1 pts)
Generally uses prescribed format and writing style. Partially applies APA style to references
XXXXXXXXXXpts)
Effectively uses prescribed format and writing style. Effectively applies APA style to all references.
(1.5 pts)
1